关于本书
约翰·华生医生在阿富汗服役后带着垮掉的身体回到伦敦，却苦于找不到负担得起的住处。他经人介绍结识了古怪而才华横溢的夏洛克·福尔摩斯，此人对化学和演绎推理有着神秘的热情。这部经典侦探小说讲述了两人开始合租之后，这对意想不到的搭档如何应对都市生活的种种复杂。
开篇
PART I.
第一部
(Being a reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., Late of the Army Medical Department.)
（转载自前陆军军医部医学博士约翰·H·华生的回忆录）
CHAPTER I. MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES.
第一章 夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生
In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London,
1878年，我取得了伦敦大学的医学博士学位，
and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army.
随后前往内特利，去修完为军队外科医生规定的课程。
Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon.
在那里完成学业之后，我被正式派到第五诺森伯兰火枪团担任助理军医。
The regiment was stationed in India at the time,
那时这个团驻扎在印度，
and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out.
而在我能够赶去入伍之前，第二次阿富汗战争就爆发了。
On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes,
在孟买登陆时，我得知我的部队已经穿过山口向前推进，
and was already deep in the enemy’s country.
并且已经深入敌国境内。
I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself,
不过，我还是跟着许多和我处境相同的军官一起追了上去，
and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.
并成功地安全抵达了坎大哈，在那里我找到了我的团，并立即开始履行新的职责。
The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster.
这场战役给许多人带来了荣誉和晋升，但对我来说，它带来的只有不幸和灾难。
I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand.
我被调离了我的旅，配属到伯克郡团，并跟随他们参加了那场致命的迈万德战役。
There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery.
在那里，我的肩膀被一颗吉赛尔枪的子弹击中，子弹打碎了骨头，还擦伤了锁骨下动脉。
I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis
我本来会落入那些杀人成性的加齐士兵手中，
had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly,
要不是我的勤务兵默里表现出的忠诚和勇气，
who threw me across a pack-horse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines.
他把我横放在一匹驮马上，成功地把我安全带回了英军阵地。
Worn with pain, and weak from the prolonged hardships which I had undergone,
我被疼痛折磨得筋疲力尽，又因长期经受的艰苦而虚弱不堪，
I was removed, with a great train of wounded sufferers, to the base hospital at Peshawar.
于是和一大队伤员一起被转送到了白沙瓦的基地医院。